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After‑school programs, homeless services and watershed groups ask council to preserve community funding
Summary
Representatives from after‑school provider PASA, Amos House, Camp Street Ministry, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and other nonprofits urged the Finance Committee to maintain or restore funding that supports youth programs, homelessness outreach, food access and river greenway maintenance.
Several Providence nonprofits and community groups urged the Finance Committee during the May 6 public hearing to preserve funding for social services, after‑school programs, homeless outreach and watershed maintenance.
Key testimony Peggy Farrell, a PASA (Providence After School Alliance) board member, thanked the council for level funding in the mayor’s proposed FY26 budget and said PASA served more than 1,300 students over the last two fiscal years and offers programs that support students’ academic achievement and out‑of‑school engagement.
Eileen Hayes, CEO of Amos House, described the organization’s "hand up" program and presented numbers: Amos House served 503 individuals last year, collected 50,000 gallons of trash, retrieved 3,000 needles, assisted dozens of people into detox or shelter and helped hundreds access benefits and identification needed for housing applications.
Michelle Davis and Camp Street Ministry representatives emphasized food pantry activity and the importance of continued city support for community food programs, which serve more than a thousand people per month, they said.
Immigration legal line and other services Dorcas International Institute, represented by Kathy Cludier, requested continued funding ($50,000 was cited in testimony) for a 24/7 immigration phone line that offers free legal consultations and immediate information for immigrants and refugees.
Watershed and greenway work Alicia Lair of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council thanked the council for first‑time city funding included in last year’s budget and listed accomplishments: approximately 50,000 Providence residents live within a 10‑minute walk of the greenway; 28,000 square feet of new green space created recently; maintenance of seven miles of multi‑use trail; removal of large volumes of litter; planting of 2,000 trees and mitigation of roughly 750,000 gallons of stormwater, according to testimony.
Why this matters: Witnesses said city funding multiplies via grants and volunteer effort and that maintaining these programs avoids higher downstream social and emergency costs.
Outcome The committee received testimony and did not act on changes at the session. Nonprofits said they would submit written materials to the Finance Committee for consideration.
